Topical Bible: Israel: Obduracy of

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The term "obduracy" refers to a stubborn resistance to change or correction, often in the context of moral or spiritual matters. In the biblical narrative, the obduracy of Israel is a recurring theme, highlighting the nation's persistent disobedience and resistance to God's commands despite His continuous guidance and provision.

Historical Context

The history of Israel's obduracy begins in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. Despite witnessing miraculous signs and wonders, the Israelites frequently doubted God's promises and rebelled against His leadership through Moses. This pattern of behavior is evident in several key incidents, such as the golden calf at Mount Sinai (Exodus 32) and the refusal to enter the Promised Land due to fear of its inhabitants (Numbers 13-14).

Prophetic Rebukes

The prophets of Israel often addressed the nation's obduracy, calling them to repentance and warning of impending judgment. Isaiah lamented the spiritual blindness and deafness of the people: "Make the heart of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed" (Isaiah 6:10). Similarly, Jeremiah confronted the people's stubbornness, declaring, "But they did not listen or incline their ear; instead, they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers" (Jeremiah 7:26).

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the theme of Israel's obduracy continues, particularly in the context of their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus Himself lamented over Jerusalem, saying, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!" (Matthew 23:37). The Apostle Paul also addresses this issue, explaining that a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (Romans 11:25).

Theological Implications

The obduracy of Israel serves as a sobering reminder of the human tendency to resist divine authority and grace. It underscores the need for a heart transformation that only God can accomplish. Despite Israel's persistent rebellion, God's covenantal faithfulness remains steadfast, as He promises to restore and redeem His people in the fullness of time.

Lessons for Believers

For contemporary believers, the narrative of Israel's obduracy serves as both a warning and an encouragement. It warns against the dangers of hardening one's heart against God's voice and encourages a posture of humility and repentance. The Apostle Paul exhorts believers to learn from Israel's example: "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come" (1 Corinthians 10:11).

In summary, the obduracy of Israel is a significant theme in the biblical narrative, illustrating the challenges of faithfulness and the enduring mercy of God. Through the lens of Scripture, believers are called to examine their own hearts and remain steadfast in their commitment to God's will.

Nave's Topical Index

Exodus 33:3
To a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the middle of you; for you are a stiff necked people: lest I consume you in the way.
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Exodus 34:9
And he said, If now I have found grace in your sight, O LORD, let my LORD, I pray you, go among us; for it is a stiff necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.
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Deuteronomy 9:12-29
And the LORD said to me, Arise, get you down quickly from hence; for your people which you have brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.
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Library

Israel and Britain. A Note of Warning
... me as thou wilt, and send me where thou wilt." He continued to report his Lord's
message under constant rebuffs, and despite the ceaseless obduracy of Israel. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 31 1885/israel and britain a note.htm

A Kingdom's Epitaph
... ox in the yoke, he stiffens his neck, and stands the very picture of brute obduracy. ...
the effect of the gospel, and for the same reason as in Israel"that they ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a kingdoms epitaph.htm

Third Circuit of Galilee. The Twelve Instructed and Sent Forth.
... verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone through the cities of Israel, till
the Son of man be come. [The apostles were not to meet obduracy with obduracy. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxi third circuit of galilee.htm

Argument from the Destruction of Jerusalem and Desolation of Judea ...
... of the passion of Christ, have revived,"a faith from which Israel has fallen away ...
manifest than the mystery [1419] of this "wood,""that the obduracy of this ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter xiii argument from the destruction.htm

St. Paul's Wish to be Accursed from Christ.
... Like another Moses he bore Israel on his heart before God, and made daily ... The depressing
occasion of his grief, was the infidelity and obduracy of his nation ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon ix st pauls wish.htm

"He Hardened his Heart"
... But a glance at conditions may explain the cause of his obduracy. At ... infinite.
Meneptah measured the God of Israel by his own gods. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxx he hardened his.htm

Insensibility
... of doom to those who heard them, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know, that ...
It was a believed gospel that melted the obduracy of the self-righteous Jew ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bonar/gods way of peace/chapter xi insensibility.htm

The Twelve and the Seventy.
... But though Jesus often mourned over the obduracy of His countrymen, and though the
truth ... but rather to go "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." [42:4 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter iii the twelve and.htm

The Sun Rising Upon a Dark World
... to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will ... by
opening a door of hope, it removes that enmity and obduracy [hardness] of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon viii the sun rising.htm

Closing Hours.
... Not only did He foresee the grievous obduracy of His own infatuated countrymen,
but His ... We trusted it had been He who should have redeemed Israel," the family ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xx closing hours.htm